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Nick Gates is at the center of the Giants’ resurgent offensive line and found himself caught in the middle of the Joe Judge-Marc Colombo feud.
Escalating backstage tensions first boiled over during a recent practice, when head coach Judge corrected a technique taught by offensive line coach Colombo, and the two coaches had a fight. in front of the whole team, sources told The Post. Colombo was sacked last week for insubordination and replaced by Dave DeGuglielmo.
Gates declined to comment on the seemingly embarrassing moment on Friday, but called it “difficult news” to hear of Colombo’s dismissal.
“The first four or five weeks the offensive line was not playing well,” Gates said. “We couldn’t throw the ball. The judge said a few things here and there that he thought might help. We had to try to do our best and work with it. He’s the head coach, so he has a say in everything that happens in the building.
Philosophical differences over rotations were the root of the problem that ignited when Colombo called the judge a vulgar word in response to the hearing that DeGuglielmo had initially been added to the staff as an offensive consultant. The player’s immediate concern was that a new voice would want major changes by the time the line hit its pace.
“We do things a little bit differently – things we’ve been taught in the past because several coaches have different techniques, so you get a little bit here, a little there,” Gates said. “I think the [changes to the offense] will be minimal and the outside observer will not really notice. We still have the same system, the same games, the same program.
Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett brought Colombo with him from the Dallas Cowboys to work under the judge. Garrett is no stranger to the challenge that awaits him. As the head coach of Dallas, he made an offensive line manager change in 2018 by promoting Colombo.
“The growth and development of the offensive line over the year has been significant,” said Garrett. “If you’ve got the right kind of guys who love the ball and want to work at it, I hope they learn from their experiences.”
Garrett said he “knew nothing” of an NFL Network report that Judge and some of the former New England Patriots assistants he brought to his Giants staff are acting arrogantly towards coaches without the same background. common.
“I think I have a great relationship with Joe,” Garrett said. “I have enormous respect for him. My stay with him in New York was a truly positive experience. I learned a lot from him. I love the program that we’re trying to create here and the way we do it.
Colombo adheres to the traditional “best five” approach on the line, while Judge wants to play seven in a rotation, so that younger players gain experience.
The line played their best game of the season heading into the off week with limited rotation, but that strategy was seen as an act of defiance of Judge’s instructions. So where does that leave the roster on Sunday against the Bengals?
The Giants are unlikely to alternate tackles as rookie Matt Peart will miss the game on the COVID-19 / reserve roster. Whether it’s Chad Slade, Kenny Wiggins or Jackson Barton replacing, bench starters Andrew Thomas and Cam Fleming are counterproductive, unless it’s to develop Peart.
But the Giants are planning to rotate the guards for the first time now that Will Hernandez is recovered from COVID-19, Kevin Zeitler has cleared the concussion protocol and rookie Shane Lemieux has held on in Hernandez’s absence. Indications are that Lemieux will start at left guard and Hernandez – who played 2,523 consecutive shots to start his career – will be option # 3.
“We want to play all of our guys,” Judge said. “Keep them fresh, spin them. We believe we have several competent players in these positions. We will use them all. “
The judge described the “very resilient” offensive line’s response to DeGuglielmo as “no different from any other week.”
“We can’t skip a beat,” said Gates, one of only two players, along with quarterback Daniel Jones, to play all the offensive clichés this season. “I am delighted to be working with him and to see where things are going.”
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